Asa speab



A. SPEAR.

FLOOD FENCE.

(No Model.)

No. 326,690. Patented Sept. 22, 1885.

Prion.

ATENT ASA SPEAR, or NAPA, CALIFORNIA.

FLOOD- FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,690, dated September 22, 1885.

Application filed February 18, 1885. (No model.) 7

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Asa SPEAK, of Napa city, Napa county, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Flood-Fences; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to a fence designed to be employed in flooded districts, or wherever there is a channel which is liable to be overflowed or flooded at intervals; and it consists in the combination of devices hereinafter explained and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure 1 shows a panel of my fence standing vertically. Fig. 2 shows it lying in position for the passage of a body of water. Fig. 3 is a section of the post. Fig. 4 is a detail,in front elevation,of one of the posts and portions of the panels, rails, and float.

A A are posts, which are set at suitable intervals apart across the space or territory where the fence is to be employed. These posts are set deeply in the ground, so as not to be easily shaken, moved, or floated out of place by a flood of water. The ends which project above the ground may be two feet or more in height, and have upon their upper ends stops B, against which the upper rail of the fence-panel is arrested and held when the panel stands upright. These permanent stops are upon the side of the post from which the current of water will flow, and the opposite side of the post is grooved or otherwise arranged to receive vertically moving latches or stops 0. To the lower end of these latches leverarms D are pivoted, having floats E attached to their outer ends. These levers and floats are so arranged that the floats will ordinarily stand vertically against the sides of the posts. The upper end of the stops or latches will project enough above the tops of the posts to form channels between themselves and the permanent stops B, within which the upper end of the rails F of the fence-panel will lie. The lower rails, G, of these panels have pivot or hinge pins H at each end by which they are hinged to the posts at points close to the ground.

The panels may be made in any desired Style. In the present case I have shown them formed with vertical pickets secured to the upper and lower rails, and extending some distance above the upper one, on account of the posts being made low.

The operation of the device will then be as follows: The fence is constructed across a de pression or channel which may be dry at certain seasons of the year, and which is subject to flood or overflow at other times. Such a stream usually brings down more or less grass, leaves, limbs, and trash which will lodge against an ordinary stationary fence,or against a fence which may be hinged from the top,and will carry it away, so that it must be replaced after the subsidence of every inundation. In my device as soon as the water rises to a little height the floats E will be lifted, and, acting through the levers D, will withdraw the latches or stops 0, so that the pressure of the water against the opposite side of the panels of the fence will cause them to fall down, turning about the hinges at the bottoms of the posts. All trash which may be brought down by the stream will be practically unimpeded, as it will flow smoothly over the top of the prostrate fence-sections, and the posts are so low that they will in a short time be submerged, so that when the water rises sufficiently to bring large quantities of rubbish the channel will be practically free and the fence present no obstruction. Whenever the water subsides, the floats will fall down again, and it will then only be necessary to lift the panels up, temporarily withdrawing the latches, so that the upper rail can be replaced in the groove or channel on the top of the post, where it will be securely retained until the next overflow. By hinging the panels to the bottom of the post instead of the top there is the least possible strain brought upon the posts, and they may be made so low that any considerable overflow of water will entirely submerge them, while such a large portion of the post is in the ground that it is not easy to loosen or draw it out.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the posts and the vertically-movable latches arranged in grooves therein, of the gate-panel hinged to the posts at its lower corners, and the pivoted floats the pivoted floats E E, connected with said connected with the latches, substantialiy as latches, substantially as described.

described. 7 p

2. The combination, with the posts A A, ASA SPEAK 5 having stops B B, 'of the hinged gate-panel, Witnesses:

the upper bar of which rests on the tops of the S. H. N oURsE,

posts, the vertically mo'vable latchesC C, and O. D. COLE. 

